SportsLife issue 4, 2016 | Page 7

TROJANS STAR TACHINSKI HONORED BY MHSAA Victoria Tachinski, one of the top young athletes in Manitoba, recently won runner won four gold medals in the Varsity Girls 200-metre, 400-metre, 800-metre, and Medley Relay team at the Milk Provincial Track and Field Championships in Brandon last month. She also set a provincial record in the 400 (54.9 seconds), and just missed the 800 record. “Definitely my dream is to go to the Olympics and to compete for Canada.” she said. “I think my goal right now is the 2020 in Japan.” Tachinski also surprised crowds at the Music City Distance Carnival in early June by winning the Invitational 800-metres with a record-breaking time of 2:03.58. Her Victoria Tachinski time is a new Canadian Youth record, replacing Carly Paracholski’s previous 2:05.88. A Grade 11 student, she maintains a 95 per cent academic average, while also participating in basketball, flag football and hockey. In fact, she just recently led Manitoba to the national U-18 women’s flag football championship (below). MANITOBA SUCCESSFUL AT NATIONAL FLAG CHAMPIONSHIPS Team Manitoba U-20 National Flag Champions Manitoba had incredible success at the national Flag Football Championships in Halifax in mid-May. In the U-18 female division, Manitoba went 5-0 during the round robin portion of the tournament and then beat Saskatchewan 33-18 in the final. The tandem of Alana Lesperance and Victoria Tachinski led the way for Manitoba. Lesperance tallied three touchdowns and two interceptions in the win while Tachinski contributed two touchdowns and two interceptions. Manitoba also captured top spot in the U-20 male division following a 25-19 gold medal game victory over BC. With the win, Manitoba became the third team to finish the competition with an undefeated record. In the final, Manitoba displayed a balanced attack as Jeremy Kornelsen, Richard Wyss, Drake Lesperance and Garrison Trinder each scored a touchdown. In the men’s U-18 third place game, Manitoba beat Saskatchewan 41-12 to win the bronze medal. MEIER WINS GOLD, SILVER AT NATIONAL BADMINTON EVENT Manitoba’s lone entrant, Olivia Meier, won a gold and silver medal at the First Canadian Para-Badminton Championships held last month in Moncton NB. The event was held in conjunction with the Junior and U-23 National Badminton Championships. Meier, a grade 11 student at Balmoral Hall who was classified into the standing lower category at National Championships, is more used to competing in local and national badminton tournaments with athletes who are considered able bodied. Most observers wouldn’t notice her disadvantage because in the last five years, she’s won mor